Chapter 2. Swamiji’s guidance
4305 Words
October 30 2019
Evening 4 PM
Along the streets of Padmanagar colony Nalgonda, people were organising a rally in the small lanes crying out political slogans. Elections in these areas stand as a risk to throat! Many of the volunteers end up with a hoarse voice, including Paramesh, a heavy man with wide girth. He was sitting in his chair securely inside his home counting the number of Voters in the constitution. His wife was making hot coffee on the stove preparing him for a hot argument.
"Do you really need to participate as a volunteer?" The short and stout statured long haired wheatish coloured woman started her fight with her husband early in the morning as if it's a ritual to be done without missing. Paramesh gave a glimpse upon her and resumed counting the voters. The room was too congested for them due to lavish life of Paramesh. Recently he even bought an MP3 player with 5.1 Dolby Atmos speaker attached to Sony television occupying the entire area. A little mouse scurried in the corner of the room. It suddenly made the woman Revati shout out loud “Vinith” as of a reflex activity.
A lean fair teenage boy with a curly hair was sleeping frivolously on his bed watching a movie with earphones stuffed inside his ears without any concern for the imminent danger. Revati shouted again but he didn't respond. She was angry upon him for arranging those speakers negligently and slept in his room unabashedly. An old woman with a greyish hair, wrinkled face and wearing an old saree just came inside who was mother in law of Revati. She tried to pacify her "Don't shout too much. Even you lose your vocal cord. Who will manage these voters"
It was a small house with attached kitchen, partly separated living room and a bedroom facing backside of the house. She took a stick and came rushing towards backdoor with a stick in her hands. "I will teach you a lesson"
Instantly Surya, a tall and handsome young man with a French cut beard wearing Armani t-shirt and Pepe jeans, hailing from Hyderabad opened the door with a glee in his face. His face contorted immediately with terror by seeing his aunt with a stick. Revati lowered her stick. "Oh Surya! Just now I was thinking about you. 100 years"
"Is that the reason you brought the stick aunt? I don't think I survive that long if you beat with that" Surya humoured.
Vinith gyrated with surprise to see Surya and stood with excitement.
"I am glad that you came today. We can visit a nearby village where the people really liked your book" Surya was in a plan of promoting his book and sent 2 copies along with his cousin. It became so viral over there and people wanted to meet him for the book.
"Well that sounds like a great idea. We shall plan tomorrow then"
"Now or never"
October 31st 2019
Morning 6 AM
It was a remote village in Nalgonda district which was full of greenery and palm trees. Paddy and cotton grow well in this area. A group of teenage boys led by a young man passing on a narrow curvy way.
"How long do we have to walk?" Surya’s legs seemed to give up. "Just a little far, brother" told Niranjan, a curly haired local village boy, college friend of Vinith.
They were passing through the s**t strewn route so precariously, but Surya was stepping so cautiously while instructing others about the route. It seemed kind of mini trek for him. As a guide, he moved ahead as a lead ensuring the safety of the group.
"Those two acres of land from the palm trees to that far end are ours" Niranjan told boastfully showing a vast field of paddy. Two other kids were following them like a sheep in a heard. One with a brush in mouth looked angrily at Niranjan and Vinith for exploiting him, for a group pic.
Soon they reached a mountain full of huge gravels and intermittent tracks of crane as if mining was going ahead. They reached a hilltop where they rested with relief. "This is the highest place in this area. See there. That’s Cherlapally Lake. See there... that's Panagal Lake... So big"
Niranjan shouted out exuberantly.
He immediately took out a book, which was the novel written by Surya. All the way he was twisting the book as his wish. Surya's heart sank to see the book being twisted. But he couldn't say any word as the damage was already done. Initially it was neat like a well ironed shirt but now it became so nasty.
On the way Niranjan showed the book to an old man who was beside his father under a streetlamp near a cylindrical mini transformer. He turned the pages of the book while asking series of questions.
"I like the cover page."
"Even we all like the cover page" the other boys chorused. Surya looked nonplussed. Niranjan explained "Actually only I read the book and shared the cover page in our groups. So, they all liked the cover page."
"Cover page is super." The kid with brush babbled.
"Why don't you print the book in local language? Everyone reads" Niranjan asked.
What the hell? I am struggling with the sales of this book and now reprint in local language? He thought. "I will think" Surya told gently.
Soon after having the selfie on the rocks Surya and other guys took a route on the water pipes which they use as a short cut and simplest route to descend the mountain but not an easy though.
Surya wanted to try it so followed them. Initially it was easy as the pipelines are of cement and he got grip to walk but as he moved further it became slippery and had to move carefully. Finally, they reached the ground. Had selfies on the way with variety stunts on the pipe.
"I will show you a beautiful temple and Ashram here" Niranjan declared.
Surya perplexed as the Swamiji he knew imbibed hydrophobia. It took years to get relieved from that. Since then he was cautious about Swamiji. As for the wishes of his fans, he was ready to walk through a hell. Niranjan led them through the narrow but beautifully decorated routes to an isolated place consisted of Saffron coloured small cottages obviously looked like temples. The location was so peaceful and beautiful passing vibes within Surya. He forgot everything and became involved with the ambience. The first temple on the way contains Shiva's statue inside. Well sculpted dark structure made out of granite.
"These Swamiji's depend on the alms and offerings provided by the well-known people including doctors who come to see him" Niranjan told while guiding them. There was a new construction going on with a new temple opposite which there was a hut. An old man leisurely chanting some mantras appeared sitting on his cot.
“There is Swamiji!” Niranjan pointed out at him.
"Let's take the blessings of him. The book will get famous." Vinith told. Surya hesitated for a moment and went ahead.
"What will we talk?" Surya pondered for a while before approving.
"Well we don’t need to talk anything. Get his blessing, have a selfie with him” Vinith winked. “Even if you just keep the picture as the book cover, you will have so many sales.”
Niranjan hi-fived. Surya shook his head. “Blessings okay. Not book cover” Everyone broke into laughter.
The four members went under the small hut where Swamiji was resting on his cot flanked by a fridge on his right and a fan on top. These days even Swamijis are also updated. He was a middle-aged man with a white overgrown beard reflecting his wisdom over his grim face, wearing saffron coloured robe exposing his chest with overgrown hair and bulky arms and bulkier abdomen.
He looked plainly at the people. Niranjan struggled to speak while Surya took the lead
"Swamiji. It's my book. We need blessings"
Swamiji went through the book silently page after page. Surya wondered if he understood English. Swamiji slowly went through all the pages and nodded and gave it back.
“You need to do a few things to make it a best seller.”
Surya was taken aback and listened obediently.
“You are doctor, right? Finished MBBS in Gandhi Hospital and M.S in Osmania Hospital.”
“How do you know Swamiji? Is this your power?” Vinith surprised.
“It’s written on your blurb” Swamiji told plainly. Vinith baffled.
“It looks like a romantic story. You change the genre of next novel to psycho thriller”
“Psycho thriller!” Surya exclaimed.
“Trust me! And use some publicity stunts to promote your book”
And he came closer to him and whispered in ears.
“This is the secret only you have to hear. Ask English lecturers to read your book and suggest the students. Meet your HODs and ask for their help. Promote to the strangers through your traveling. You mentioned on the book that you love trekking and organises such events. Well arrange an event. Take a group with you.”
“Where shall I take them”
Swamiji scribbled something on some slips, chanted some Mantra and threw it. “Take one” Surya puzzled “What are they?”
“Places you can take for traveling”
Surya complied still wearing the puzzled expression and unravelled the paper. “Pondicherry” He told out loud.
“You need to plan Pondicherry”
“Thanks, Swamiji. I will do” And they turned outside. Swamiji looked grim. Niranjan understood. “It’s time for some offering” Surya reluctantly offered his 500 notes to him.
Swamiji felt satisfied and poured some ash over their face. “Seek and shall find”
They came out coughing with ash penetrated into their nostrils. Very little he knew now that the suggestions of the Swamiji would lead to cascade of events that would change his life forever.
They cleaned up with fresh flowing water in the nearby rivulet.
“This Swamiji is weird” Surya told.
“Just obey him. You find miracles” Niranjan told while sprinkling water with his hands over his face. “Many people’s fate changed” He playfully splashed water over Vinith’s face who was dabbling his feet in the water. With a sudden excitement they began splashing on each other. After a moment they came out fully drenched in the water. Passed sometime swimming in it.
Soon they went out of the water with water drooling from their wet shirts. Niranjan told "Swamiji nodded. It means your book will be great" Niranjan assured. Later when they were passing the way, Niranjan's uncle, a dark lean middle-aged man with a dhoti crossed them with a pot suspended to his vest and turban over his head. It's clear that he was a toddy seller.
“Niranjan! Good to see you son.” He looked at Surya “Is he your new friend?” He smiled gently at Surya
“He is a cross cousin of Vinith” Niranjan showed Surya who reciprocated with a smile.
“Well you have to taste the local drink here”
The old man made a container out of palm leaf by wrapping up its sharp ends with a depression in middle. Surya crouched before him and the old man bent his pot with a mesh before its mouth. The toddy filled up in the palm leaf and Surya savoured it.
Vinith followed him and even he enjoyed it. It was delicious. Surya was about to give money to the man, but the toddy seller refused.
“You are our guests. No need of money”
Surya was awestruck. Being in such a low social state, they still respect the guests expecting nothing. In cities nothing is free. Even water costs a lot.
From the next day, Surya was quite preoccupied with his next book on Psycho thriller genre. It became hectic for him to continue writing during Plastic Surgery postings under the Plastic Surgery HOD Hari Prasad, but he resolved to finish the book in a month before New Year.
Chennai Express
Hyderabad to Chennai
Jan 3rd 2020
Friday Night 8 PM
Surya woke up from his sleep in his sitting position in the fast-moving train. He didn’t remember when he fell asleep. It was night 8pm. Something disturbed him inside his pocket which was more intense than the gruesome face of the old man staring at him as if he was a thief. He checked it. His phone was vibrating.
His mother made a phone call. "Excuse me" and he attended the call. "Hello Mom"
The voice on the other side was quite stern.
"What were the photos on face book?" It's quiet surprising for Surya to hear that. Generally, he would get such threats from his mother at the end of a trip especially when he had intimate photos with girls on beach. But now he had it even before starting a journey. "Mom! What were you talking about?"
"I was telling about the photos with the villagers." Is she kidding? "If you upload such photos, people think about us in a cheap way"
He was about to explode in the train amidst of other passengers but he controlled his temper and calmed himself
"Okay Mom! Now I don't have signals. I will delete later"
"If you don't have signals how you are talking?" She asked irately.
"I mean internet signals are not there. Will talk later" he replied peevishly and hung up the call. The other passengers were staring at him.
"You know parents these days! They care too much these days"
Yeah care too much... even peek at your sss photos too. He recently blocked his father on sss as he was raising such complaints and disturbing his peace. Now his mom also added to the list of caregivers.
"If you really care about your kids why you don’t just trust them and give them freedom. Why do you interrogate at every step? Parents these days!" He mentioned frustratedly to the short chubby girl Shrishti who sat diagonal to him beside window. She nodded with concern. The old man grumbled seriously. "Not you sir. You are exceptional" He told imitating generosity.
He is the next level father who came along with her daughter being suspicious about her activities.
Slowly he lost into sleep again. Chapter 2. Swamiji’s guidance
October 30 2019
Evening 4 PM
Along the streets of Padmanagar colony Nalgonda, people were organising a rally in the small lanes crying out political slogans. Elections in these areas stand as a risk to throat! Many of the volunteers end up with a hoarse voice, including Paramesh, a heavy man with wide girth. He was sitting in his chair securely inside his home counting the number of Voters in the constitution. His wife was making hot coffee on the stove preparing him for a hot argument.
"Do you really need to participate as a volunteer?" The short and stout statured long haired wheatish coloured woman started her fight with her husband early in the morning as if it's a ritual to be done without missing. Paramesh gave a glimpse upon her and resumed counting the voters. The room was too congested for them due to lavish life of Paramesh. Recently he even bought an MP3 player with 5.1 Dolby Atmos speaker attached to Sony television occupying the entire area. A little mouse scurried in the corner of the room. It suddenly made the woman Revati shout out loud “Vinith” as of a reflex activity.
A lean fair teenage boy with a curly hair was sleeping frivolously on his bed watching a movie with earphones stuffed inside his ears without any concern for the imminent danger. Revati shouted again but he didn't respond. She was angry upon him for arranging those speakers negligently and slept in his room unabashedly. An old woman with a greyish hair, wrinkled face and wearing an old saree just came inside who was mother in law of Revati. She tried to pacify her "Don't shout too much. Even you lose your vocal cord. Who will manage these voters"
It was a small house with attached kitchen, partly separated living room and a bedroom facing backside of the house. She took a stick and came rushing towards backdoor with a stick in her hands. "I will teach you a lesson"
Instantly Surya, a tall and handsome young man with a French cut beard wearing Armani t-shirt and Pepe jeans, hailing from Hyderabad opened the door with a glee in his face. His face contorted immediately with terror by seeing his aunt with a stick. Revati lowered her stick. "Oh Surya! Just now I was thinking about you. 100 years"
"Is that the reason you brought the stick aunt? I don't think I survive that long if you beat with that" Surya humoured.
Vinith gyrated with surprise to see Surya and stood with excitement.
"I am glad that you came today. We can visit a nearby village where the people really liked your book" Surya was in a plan of promoting his book and sent 2 copies along with his cousin. It became so viral over there and people wanted to meet him for the book.
"Well that sounds like a great idea. We shall plan tomorrow then"
"Now or never"
October 31st 2019
Morning 6 AM
It was a remote village in Nalgonda district which was full of greenery and palm trees. Paddy and cotton grow well in this area. A group of teenage boys led by a young man passing on a narrow curvy way.
"How long do we have to walk?" Surya’s legs seemed to give up. "Just a little far, brother" told Niranjan, a curly haired local village boy, college friend of Vinith.
They were passing through the s**t strewn route so precariously, but Surya was stepping so cautiously while instructing others about the route. It seemed kind of mini trek for him. As a guide, he moved ahead as a lead ensuring the safety of the group.
"Those two acres of land from the palm trees to that far end are ours" Niranjan told boastfully showing a vast field of paddy. Two other kids were following them like a sheep in a heard. One with a brush in mouth looked angrily at Niranjan and Vinith for exploiting him, for a group pic.
Soon they reached a mountain full of huge gravels and intermittent tracks of crane as if mining was going ahead. They reached a hilltop where they rested with relief. "This is the highest place in this area. See there. That’s Cherlapally Lake. See there... that's Panagal Lake... So big"
Niranjan shouted out exuberantly.
He immediately took out a book, which was the novel written by Surya. All the way he was twisting the book as his wish. Surya's heart sank to see the book being twisted. But he couldn't say any word as the damage was already done. Initially it was neat like a well ironed shirt but now it became so nasty.
On the way Niranjan showed the book to an old man who was beside his father under a streetlamp near a cylindrical mini transformer. He turned the pages of the book while asking series of questions.
"I like the cover page."
"Even we all like the cover page" the other boys chorused. Surya looked nonplussed. Niranjan explained "Actually only I read the book and shared the cover page in our groups. So, they all liked the cover page."
"Cover page is super." The kid with brush babbled.
"Why don't you print the book in local language? Everyone reads" Niranjan asked.
What the hell? I am struggling with the sales of this book and now reprint in local language? He thought. "I will think" Surya told gently.
Soon after having the selfie on the rocks Surya and other guys took a route on the water pipes which they use as a short cut and simplest route to descend the mountain but not an easy though.
Surya wanted to try it so followed them. Initially it was easy as the pipelines are of cement and he got grip to walk but as he moved further it became slippery and had to move carefully. Finally, they reached the ground. Had selfies on the way with variety stunts on the pipe.
"I will show you a beautiful temple and Ashram here" Niranjan declared.
Surya perplexed as the Swamiji he knew imbibed hydrophobia. It took years to get relieved from that. Since then he was cautious about Swamiji. As for the wishes of his fans, he was ready to walk through a hell. Niranjan led them through the narrow but beautifully decorated routes to an isolated place consisted of Saffron coloured small cottages obviously looked like temples. The location was so peaceful and beautiful passing vibes within Surya. He forgot everything and became involved with the ambience. The first temple on the way contains Shiva's statue inside. Well sculpted dark structure made out of granite.
"These Swamiji's depend on the alms and offerings provided by the well-known people including doctors who come to see him" Niranjan told while guiding them. There was a new construction going on with a new temple opposite which there was a hut. An old man leisurely chanting some mantras appeared sitting on his cot.
“There is Swamiji!” Niranjan pointed out at him.
"Let's take the blessings of him. The book will get famous." Vinith told. Surya hesitated for a moment and went ahead.
"What will we talk?" Surya pondered for a while before approving.
"Well we don’t need to talk anything. Get his blessing, have a selfie with him” Vinith winked. “Even if you just keep the picture as the book cover, you will have so many sales.”
Niranjan hi-fived. Surya shook his head. “Blessings okay. Not book cover” Everyone broke into laughter.
The four members went under the small hut where Swamiji was resting on his cot flanked by a fridge on his right and a fan on top. These days even Swamijis are also updated. He was a middle-aged man with a white overgrown beard reflecting his wisdom over his grim face, wearing saffron coloured robe exposing his chest with overgrown hair and bulky arms and bulkier abdomen.
He looked plainly at the people. Niranjan struggled to speak while Surya took the lead
"Swamiji. It's my book. We need blessings"
Swamiji went through the book silently page after page. Surya wondered if he understood English. Swamiji slowly went through all the pages and nodded and gave it back.
“You need to do a few things to make it a best seller.”
Surya was taken aback and listened obediently.
“You are doctor, right? Finished MBBS in Gandhi Hospital and M.S in Osmania Hospital.”
“How do you know Swamiji? Is this your power?” Vinith surprised.
“It’s written on your blurb” Swamiji told plainly. Vinith baffled.
“It looks like a romantic story. You change the genre of next novel to psycho thriller”
“Psycho thriller!” Surya exclaimed.
“Trust me! And use some publicity stunts to promote your book”
And he came closer to him and whispered in ears.
“This is the secret only you have to hear. Ask English lecturers to read your book and suggest the students. Meet your HODs and ask for their help. Promote to the strangers through your traveling. You mentioned on the book that you love trekking and organises such events. Well arrange an event. Take a group with you.”
“Where shall I take them”
Swamiji scribbled something on some slips, chanted some Mantra and threw it. “Take one” Surya puzzled “What are they?”
“Places you can take for traveling”
Surya complied still wearing the puzzled expression and unravelled the paper. “Pondicherry” He told out loud.
“You need to plan Pondicherry”
“Thanks, Swamiji. I will do” And they turned outside. Swamiji looked grim. Niranjan understood. “It’s time for some offering” Surya reluctantly offered his 500 notes to him.
Swamiji felt satisfied and poured some ash over their face. “Seek and shall find”
They came out coughing with ash penetrated into their nostrils. Very little he knew now that the suggestions of the Swamiji would lead to cascade of events that would change his life forever.
They cleaned up with fresh flowing water in the nearby rivulet.
“This Swamiji is weird” Surya told.
“Just obey him. You find miracles” Niranjan told while sprinkling water with his hands over his face. “Many people’s fate changed” He playfully splashed water over Vinith’s face who was dabbling his feet in the water. With a sudden excitement they began splashing on each other. After a moment they came out fully drenched in the water. Passed sometime swimming in it.
Soon they went out of the water with water drooling from their wet shirts. Niranjan told "Swamiji nodded. It means your book will be great" Niranjan assured. Later when they were passing the way, Niranjan's uncle, a dark lean middle-aged man with a dhoti crossed them with a pot suspended to his vest and turban over his head. It's clear that he was a toddy seller.
“Niranjan! Good to see you son.” He looked at Surya “Is he your new friend?” He smiled gently at Surya
“He is a cross cousin of Vinith” Niranjan showed Surya who reciprocated with a smile.
“Well you have to taste the local drink here”
The old man made a container out of palm leaf by wrapping up its sharp ends with a depression in middle. Surya crouched before him and the old man bent his pot with a mesh before its mouth. The toddy filled up in the palm leaf and Surya savoured it.
Vinith followed him and even he enjoyed it. It was delicious. Surya was about to give money to the man, but the toddy seller refused.
“You are our guests. No need of money”
Surya was awestruck. Being in such a low social state, they still respect the guests expecting nothing. In cities nothing is free. Even water costs a lot.
From the next day, Surya was quite preoccupied with his next book on Psycho thriller genre. It became hectic for him to continue writing during Plastic Surgery postings under the Plastic Surgery HOD Hari Prasad, but he resolved to finish the book in a month before New Year.
Chennai Express
Hyderabad to Chennai
Jan 3rd 2020
Friday Night 8 PM
Surya woke up from his sleep in his sitting position in the fast-moving train. He didn’t remember when he fell asleep. It was night 8pm. Something disturbed him inside his pocket which was more intense than the gruesome face of the old man staring at him as if he was a thief. He checked it. His phone was vibrating.
His mother made a phone call. "Excuse me" and he attended the call. "Hello Mom"
The voice on the other side was quite stern.
"What were the photos on face book?" It's quiet surprising for Surya to hear that. Generally, he would get such threats from his mother at the end of a trip especially when he had intimate photos with girls on beach. But now he had it even before starting a journey. "Mom! What were you talking about?"
"I was telling about the photos with the villagers." Is she kidding? "If you upload such photos, people think about us in a cheap way"
He was about to explode in the train amidst of other passengers but he controlled his temper and calmed himself
"Okay Mom! Now I don't have signals. I will delete later"
"If you don't have signals how you are talking?" She asked irately.
"I mean internet signals are not there. Will talk later" he replied peevishly and hung up the call. The other passengers were staring at him.
"You know parents these days! They care too much these days"
Yeah care too much... even peek at your sss photos too. He recently blocked his father on sss as he was raising such complaints and disturbing his peace. Now his mom also added to the list of caregivers.
"If you really care about your kids why you don’t just trust them and give them freedom. Why do you interrogate at every step? Parents these days!" He mentioned frustratedly to the short chubby girl Shrishti who sat diagonal to him beside window. She nodded with concern. The old man grumbled seriously. "Not you sir. You are exceptional" He told imitating generosity.
He is the next level father who came along with her daughter being suspicious about her activities.
Slowly he lost into sleep again.
- Writer
